College contractual teachers seek implementation of SC directions on their services

SRINAGAR — All Jammu and Kashmir College Contractual Teachers Association (JKCCTA) on Wednesday held a protest here in Srinagar demanding implementation of the Supreme Court (SC) directions regarding the resumption of the services of the academic arrangement faculty.

Scores of contractual college teachers from various districts of Kashmir assembled here in the Press Enclave, holding placards and banners in their hands which read, “Fulfill our demands”, “Justice delayed is justice denied”, ”Save youth, save Kashmir,” “We want justice” and “Implement Supreme Court orders”.

According to the news agency CNS, the spokesperson of JKCCTA, Dr Iqbal expressed dismay over the non-implementation of recent Supreme Court orders (Civil Appeal No. 103 of 2021) by the Department of Higher Education J&K UT regarding the resumption of services of those academic arrangement faculty members whose status is protected by the orders of High Court of J&K and CAT Jammu/Srinagar Benches.

He informed that this petition was filed by the Administrative Department of Higher Education against the verdict of the CAT Jammu Bench in the Supreme Court of India. “But keeping in view the merits of the basic petitions filed by the academic arrangement faculty in High Court and CAT, Supreme Court of India dismissed the appeal of the Higher Education Department and upheld the directions of High Court and CAT passed from time to time,” he said, adding that the apex court also directed the department to resume the services of the faculty with immediate effect.

“Even as the Administrative Department issued an order (HED-LEG/104/2022-04) in context of the above mentioned Supreme Court direction for the resumption of the duties of the academic arrangement faculty working on court directions in different Degree Colleges of Jammu and Kashmir UT, Nodal Principals circulated the vague resumption order (GGM/SC/ COLL/1293-95) which is in total violation of the Supreme Court,” Mr Iqbal said.

The protesting teachers castigated the delaying tactics and manipulation of the Supreme Court directions as the orders have been implemented in Jammu province only which is, in turn, harassing the already suffering faculty in Kashmir.

Meanwhile, the protesting college teachers urged Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to personally intervene in the matter and issue necessary directions to uphold the orders of the judiciary in the UT.